The atmosphere at the TNA Wrestling: Rebellion event took a grave turn when former WWE superstar and TNA veteran Eric Young sustained a severe injury during a high-stakes Full Metal Mayhem match against Frankie Kazarian. At 44 years old, the former world champion was involved in a harrowing incident that resulted in him needing immediate plastic surgery.
The match, known for its no-holds-barred, anything-goes nature, lived up to its brutal reputation when Young and Kazarian took their fight to extreme levels. The turning point came when Young was subjected to Kazarian’s Flux Capacitor move from the top rope aimed towards a wooden table set up in the ring. The execution went awry, and Young horrifically caught his ear on the edge of the table as they fell short, causing him to bleed profusely from the side of his head.
Medical staff at the event responded immediately, but the severity of the injury led to Young being rushed to a plastic surgeon who worked to reattach his ear. TNA Wrestling broadcaster Gia Miller gave an update the following day, confirming the grim details: “Eric Young suffered a severe laceration to the ear. He did see a plastic surgeon who attached the severed ear.” Adding to the dire news, Miller announced that Young was no longer medically cleared to wrestle, stirring concern and sympathy from fans and peers alike.
The wrestling community quickly rallied behind Young, sharing messages of support and shock over social media. Fans expressed their hopes for his recovery and praised the quick response of the medical team and the referee, who helped hasten the match’s conclusion so Young could receive the necessary medical attention. Tweets from concerned fans like @WrestlingCovers and @sheleheda underscored the community’s support, while others like @Jeremy_Peeples highlighted the gruesome nature of the injury with remarks like, “Dang his ear got sliced!”
.@TheEricYoung takes a DEVASTATING move through the table! #Rebellion pic.twitter.com/FhRFKhUOrz
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 21, 2024
Eric Young, who has been a staple in TNA Wrestling for over two decades and also experienced a rollercoaster career with WWE from 2016 to 2020, is well-known for his vocal stance on creative directions in wrestling. His return to TNA in 2022 was marked by fanfare, but this recent incident has put his wrestling future in question.
The Rebellion event was notably tough on several wrestlers, with injuries not limited to Young. Gia Miller reported other incidents, including Josh Alexander who suffered contusions to his ear and eardrum but is cleared to wrestle. Meanwhile, Brian Myers is facing an uncertain future in the ring following a shoulder injury, pending MRI results.
This string of injuries at Rebellion has highlighted the inherent risks of professional wrestling, reminding fans and performers of the physical toll the sport can exact. As the wrestling world hopes for Eric Young’s swift recovery and return to the ring, the incident has undoubtedly cast a shadow over the event, sparking discussions on safety protocols and the limits of physical storytelling in wrestling.
